Nexilist Notebook

     A lot of research has been done on the distinction between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. Intrinsic motivation is defined as motivation coming from within the self. An example would be playing golf because you love the game. Extrinsic motivation is defined as motivation coming from outside the person. An example would be handing over your wallet because someone is holding a gun on you.  

Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation

     There has been an ongoing debate about the nature of “willpower”. Some say that it is like a muscle that can be exhausted by use. Others claim that there is no evidence for this. Recently, some researches have discovered that where exercising “willpower” to carry out extrinsically motivated activities can “exhaust” the will, exercising “willpower” to carry out intrinsically motivated activities apparently does not “exhaust” the will.

Choice and Ego-Depletion

     I recently came upon a paper that expanded Extrinsic motivation into 4 types based upon movement in the direction of Intrinsic motivation.

Here is a breakdown from no motivation to Intrinsic motivation by way of Extrinsic motivations.

Amotivation – not motivated by anything

External regulation – strictly based on the desirability of the immediate reward  

Introjection – Ego involvement and desire of approval of others

Identification – Conscious valuing of activity, personal endorsement of goals

Integration – Hierarchical synthesis of the goals, congruence with personal goals  

Intrinsic Motivation – Interest and enjoyment, inherent satisfaction

       It seems to me that the process of enculturation is one of instilling a set of standard practices for cooperation in the individual. The more that cooperation is an outgrowth of intrinsic motivation, the more robust the culture. Conversely, the more that cooperation is an outgrowth of extrinsic motivation the more vulnerable the culture. This is partly due to the fact that, if the will is not exhausted by intrinsic motivation, that type of motivation will be able to continue to function in high stress situations. Exhaustion of the will due to stress can cause the breakdown of social cooperation in extreme conditions.I believe that part of the current problem with American culture is that there has been a drift of motivation to cooperate from the intrinsic to the extrinsic. This has been aggravated by the growing gap between the rich and the poor. Sociological stress has been building for decades and our society is in serious danger of collapse or transition to fascism. A major sociological stressor such as natural disasters or terrorist attacks could be the trigger.